Gardaí acquitted of assault causing harm

A jury at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has returned not guilty verdicts in the case of two gardaí accused of assault causing harm.

Garda John Mulcahy and Garda Brian O'Connor of Blanchardstown Garda Station were acquitted after an eight-day trial.

The prosecution had alleged the gardaí had acted "well beyond their powers and the rule of law" and had carried out "a sustained assault" on 21-year-old Leon Sutcliffe as they arrested him on 13 November 2010.

It was alleged Mr Sutcliffe had suffered a lacerated kidney and had been hospitalised for ten days after the incident.

Both gardaí had denied the charge. A jury found them not guilty by unanimous verdict.